[ Belkan Autonomous Area, Northern Mid-Childa / October 1, 0078 11:46 ]
Fate found herself unemployed. The young Forwards whom Nanoha and Vita trained fell into step so naturally, they didn't even need her orders. Like an eye of the storm, she simply walked forward at a brisk pace, as the Gadgets exploded before her, their metal screeches echoing between the walls of empty buildings. Down the street, the colossal shadows of the Cradle and the Grand Cathedral loomed.
The Nakajima sisters led the charge, cleaving a path for the rest of the team. When they fought side by side, one would be forgiven for thinking they were the same person in two bodies. Teana walked a few steps behind them, her ominous orange orbs still floating around her. Any Gadgets that managed to slip past Ginga and Subaru were met with a blast from Cross Mirage or an orange orb detaching itself from its orbit. A few times, Fate wondered how Teana seemed to aim in three directions at once. Behind her, Caro's quiet but uninterrupted chanting constantly renewed the protective spells and boosts on the front attackers. Above them, Friedrich's predatory shadow circled in a wide arc, as Erio picked off the Gadgets that tried to climb up onto the rooftops.
At last, there was something for her to do, too. Several dozens of Gadgets managed to sneak onto the roofs from both sides of the street and began bombarding them from above, ignoring Erio and Friedrich's fire.
"Caro, barrier!" She ordered without turning. A second later, a pink dome large enough to cover their group sprung up above them. The technique was flawless but Fate knew it wasn't nearly strong enough to withstand continuous bombardment. Lifting Bardiche up, she infused a bit of her own mana into it, watching the pink flare up with golden veins. The Gadgets' projectiles smashed helplessly against it.
"It's beautiful, Mom!" Caro quipped behind her.
"Thank you," Fate smiled and pointed towards the Cathedral. "Double time!"
As the Forwards broke into a trot, she helped Caro carry the barrier above them. It was when they entered the Cradle's massive shadow that she felt the dimensional disturbance and then, almost immediately, Signum's presence.
"The Knights are warping in on the Plaza," she called out loud enough to be heard over the explosions caused by the Nakajimas. "We must get there before they move!"
"Aye, Ma'am!" was the reply, as the Forwards renewed their assault.
But with more and more Gadgets pouring into the street, they still weren't fast enough. Dashing past Teana and between Subaru and Ginga, Fate took the lead of the charge, and within another minute, the buildings around them gave way to the massive open space of the Grand Cathedral Plaza.
The entirely of that space was filled with Gadgets, and all of them were taking aim at them. Before they fired, however, Fate managed to discern a small island in the sea of Gadgets—dead center of the Plaza, there was a patch of free space where three familiar figures, pink, green, and blue, were standing, utterly ignored by the drones.
A massive hail of the Gadgets' magical bolts came at them like a wall of yellow light. Behind her, the Forwards gasped as Caro's shield shattered. None of them got their shields up in time, Fate realized. She tried to extend hers to cover them…
But the Gadgets' shots never connected with her shield, impacting instead on a vast circle of orange light that sprung up before them just a split second after Fate's.
"Who…" The surprise in Teana's voice reflected the bewilderment of every Forward.
"A friend!" Fate shouted. She didn't need to look to know who came to her aid again. And as much as she wanted to ask the masked woman a thousand things, she had more pressing concerns. "Back into the street! We're too exposed!"
As they retreated, the masked woman's shield covered the entire mouth of the street, giving them a moment of respite. Fate could hear her grunting a few times when another barrage impacted, but otherwise, she didn't utter a word. Fate peered through the shield across the Plaza and saw a beam of light extend from the bottom of the Cradle to the small patch where the Knights were standing. It pulled them up through the air into the bowels of the warship. Signum turned their way and saluted them with Laevatein—before tossing its sheath aside to be lost in the sea of Gadgets. Even at this distance, Fate could see the silvery gleam of the Saint Kings' Crown on her head.
Fate considered her options. If she took off now, she would be able to intercept the Knights just before they reached the entrance. She looked behind her. Ginga and Subaru were catching their breaths, while Teana and Caro peered intently at her. She could not leave them behind, she realized. She turned towards the Plaza again to watch the three Knights disappear inside of the Cradle, as the beam went out.
"StarS, what's your status?" Shari's face appeared on her left.
"Claudia, we've reached the Plaza but we are pinned down. The Knights have entered the Cradle and they still have the Crown. We could not catch up and are awaiting further orders."
"Roger. There's been a change of plans, Fate: about a minute ago, the Gadgets have started an assault on all fronts. The knights at the Saint King Hospital are being overrun…"
Fate felt something cold weigh down on her chest.
"Understood. What are our orders?"
"We need someone to reinforce the Hospital, and StarS is the only unit that can make it in…"
"Abort that order, StarS," Chrono's face sprung up on her right. "Your orders are to gain entrance into the Cradle and to continue pursuit of the Knights at any cost."
"But Sir, the Hospital…" Shari interjected.
"Easy there, Corporal. I will reinforce their position. Harlaown out."
"That man!" Shari fumed. "Well, you have your orders, StarS. Claudia out."
Fate looked around. The Gadgets were still bombarding their position but the masked woman's shield held up. The Forwards were ready for action—she just needed to figure out a way to get them all onto the Cradle. She looked up at the vast underbelly of the floating starship.
"Fate-san," Teana spoke up. She was also staring up. "Can you see the holes left by the Einherial? If we enter through one of them, we will probably end up in an engine compartment but…"
"Good thinking!" Fate's spirits went up. "Ginga, Subaru, take Teana and Caro and follow me. You," she turned to the masked woman, "thank you for everything you've done for me, but can you hold them off for just a little bit longer?"
Without turning her head, the woman nodded, propping up her shield with the free hand. Teana didn't bat an eyelash when Subaru picked her up, shifting into a comfortable position with practiced ease. Caro squirmed awkwardly and blushed as Ginga did the same with her, but their size difference made up for her clumsiness.
"StarS, move out!"
Twin Wing Roads launched towards the bulk of the Cradle in an intertwined spiral. Fate took off after them, catching up with Friedrich and Erio, as Ginga and Subaru rapidly ascended on their roller blades. It was just a couple hundred meters upwards, but the Gadgets already shifted their aim, and it was now up to her and Erio to defend the others.
As she looked down, the masked woman was nowhere to be seen.